Month: January 2019

Grace Lee – Creative Director & DJ

As a Creative Director of LA’s Runyon Group, and a brilliant DJ, Grace Lee is a multi-faceted force to be reckoned with. Born and raised in New York, she spent much of her childhood in Korea, and now lives in LA, so she’s very much on board with travel as a way of life. Case in point, she once planned a trip to Nicaragua to get away from city life for a bit, and ended up staying for months (and falling in love while she was there, why not!).

Though Grace Lee now splits her time between music and hospitality, DJ-ing used to take priority. Playing venues like The Standard’s Boom Boom Room, affiliated with artists such as Mia Moretti and Venus X, and working for Warner Brothers Music Group, her taste in tunes is second to none. As is her taste in food – between 2017 and 2018, Grace Lee ran New York’s award-winning restaurant, De Maria, with friend and Co-founder, Camille Becerra. We’re currently petitioning them to bring it back!

Part of our Insiders series, this is your window into the worlds of the coolest people in Safara’s network. These are the contacts we’d hit up for travel inspiration, whether it’s a hotel recommendation, a new track for our in-transit playlist, the best mini-products to pack, or just to daydream about where we’d open a boutique island hotel (this changes with each Insider guide we read – we’re easily and happily influenced).

Read on for travel inspiration from Grace Lee.

Name three of your favorite hotels?

Amangiri Resort in Utah. Bowery Hotel in New York. And Maderas Village in Nicaragua. 

What is the most unique hotel amenity you’ve ever encountered?

A complete custom-menu based on my blood type at a hotel in South Korea. Very personalized service. 

What hotel room design element can you not live without? 

An ambient bedside lamp (lighting can completely change a mood).

What are your favorite “offices” while traveling?

The rooftop of Boom Boom Room at The Standard Highline. Or the back patio of the Bowery Hotel.

Where would you go to digital detox or just generally to get off the grid?

Meditation and solitude is usually found when I go to the desert or the woods, anywhere in the world. Being in LA, Joshua Tree is a great place to access that sphere. 

You travel a lot for work, was this something you were seeking in a career? And how do you make it as relaxing and fun as possible?

Absolutely. As a multi-faceted creative, I believe fluidity is so healthy, and surrendering to the notion of how other parts of the world can inspire us is really important. It’s a gratitude to travel – an ode back to our world to truly embrace and nurture it. I always make sure that I bring my personal relics and totems with me to remind me of a sense of home and comfort. That includes my journals, typewriter, orca sculpture, marble globe, frankincense and myrrh incense, palo santo, and golden flask (for solo wine or mezcal adventures).

I like the simplicity of applying your “tools of influence” and bringing them wherever you go. To me, a huge purpose of travel is to find your relationship with yourself, and with your work. And I feel so fortunate that it is a part of my career. Ultimately, I love that (upon a return back) it makes home feel like home, too.

What three songs are on your travel playlist?

Daydreaming, by Thom Yorke. The Poet Acts, by Philip Glass. And Human Behaviour by Bjork.

What do you always bring with you in your carry-on?

A bible, Tea Tree oil, Tea Tree toothpicks, and noise-canceling ear plugs. 

Have you or would you travel alone?

Yes! We’re designed to understand our origin in the movement of pilgrimage. It’s in our science to be alone, because silence also creates expansive reflection. So when you travel alone, the individual spirit is at a space to find a deeper self.

What’s your favorite room service experience ever?

It’s hard to choose one. When they have a really nice pot of tea and fresh flowers, the hotel’s usually a winner.

Who is your dream “co-pilot” or travel partner?

My mom. I would love to see us both in the air, journeying somewhere new. 

Anxiety and burn out are big topics these days. How do you combat them, and how do you use travel to do so?

Meditation is key for me. Without aligning yourself at the beginning of the day, you can reduce clarity and increase anxiety. Through reflection, I acknowledge stress, anxiety, or any other emotion that comes to the surface. Really finding “flow” is the core of it all. Without a good flow, the disarray can really complicate my day of travel, or even the entire trip. So meditation is my center, wherever I go.

Do you have any tips or tricks for beating the dreaded jet lag?

I get out in the sun! The sunlight adjusts our body clock. Beautiful, eh?

Travel can be about the little luxuries, like a really amazing meal. Where was the best one you’ve had?

Garlic grilled octopus and aji roasted potatoes at Nomade in Tulum. THE BEST octopus I have ever had.

What is your favorite travel book?

Sufi poems and Arcana Volume 5: Magic, Mysticism, and Music.

What’s your go-to outfit for getting through security quickly, and still looking good?

My soft blue General Admission pants, a light colored T-shirt, beige Birkenstocks, and my custom beige Gucci Stetson hat.

If you could quit your job and follow the Mamma Mia dream (ie open a small hotel in another country or on a remote island), where would you do it?

Iceland, South Africa, South of France, Mexico, or South Korea.

Alone or with someone else?

Someone else. 

Is in-flight wifi a good idea?

No!

Early check-in or late check-out?

Late check-out.

Fantasy mini bar/fridge item?

Organic Asian tea selections: Oolong, Hojicha, or Barley Tea. Also mezcal either from Madre Mezcal, Yola Mezcal, or Lost Explorer. And definitely kimchee. 

Read more from our Insiders series, here.

Dayo Olopade Lamolo – Principal in Content Acquisition at Amazon Prime Video

Author and all-around media maven, Dayo Olopade Lamolo, currently leads dealmaking with content creators to build and grow Amazon Prime Video in Africa. She previously ran content licensing and engagement strategy for sports, news and entertainment partners at YouTube. She is also a reporter in Washington and Nairobi, a Yale Law School Knight Law & Media scholar, and a council member at Reuters. Plus, she’s helped build and launch consumer products at the New York Times and Facebook. Above all of that though, she’s a blast to have a margarita with.

Though Dayo was raised in Chicago, her parents moved to the US from Nigeria in the 80s, and in the early 2000s, she moved back to Nairobi for two years. She went on to travel through 17 countries in Africa, and her book, The Bright Continent: Breaking Rules and Making Change in Modern Africa, was born out of the experience. The reviews speak for themselves – if you haven’t read it, we suggest you add to your list immediately.  

Part of our Insiders series, this is your window into the worlds of the coolest people in Safara’s network. These are the contacts we’d hit up for travel inspiration, whether it’s a hotel recommendation, a new track for our in-transit playlist, the best mini-products to pack, or just to daydream about where we’d open a boutique island hotel (this changes with each Insider guide we read – we’re easily and happily influenced).

Read on for travel inspiration from Dayo Olopade Lamolo.

What hotel room design element can you not live without?

Rooms with wall sockets designed with different voltages in mind. I constantly toggle between European, American and South African hardware. We have to respect diversity in devices.

What are your favorite “offices” while traveling? 

I am an airport lounge lizard and proud of it.

What advice would you give someone who travels often for work?

Invest in functional luggage, and noise cancelling headphones.

What three songs are on your OOO playlist?

Young Forever, by Jay Z. Sympathy for the Devil, by The Rolling Stones. And Too Much Information, by Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra.

If you could swap suitcases with anyone in the world at baggage claim, who would you swap with?

Whoever was styling Kerry Washington on Scandal.

If you’re going to a new place, and your friends havn’t been there, what do you consult for advice? 

I will always have a soft spot for the New York Times’ 36 Hours series. And, if updated within the past two years, Wallpaper* city guides usually offer a welcome focus on architecture and design. I run some 40 miles a month, so on the road I will also check out Strava, for any well-loved routes in a new city.

Best travel advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t drink on the plane. And, always take the trip!

Anxiety and burn out are big topics these days. How do you combat them, and how does travel help?

Once in a while, I will tack a Friday night onto a work trip, and spend it in a hotel bathrobe catching up on TV, email, and beauty rest. And if you can fly business, you should!

What are your favorite travel hacks?

I’m someone who always boards last – just in case there’s an open seat in a comfier class, or closer to the front of the plane. On any flight over six hours, I am doing active leg stretches and hydrating in the galley mid-way.

What’s the most unexpected travel experience you’ve had?

I received a mysterious upgrade to Air France Première, and was whisked directly from plane to connection in a posh Jaguar sedan. No idea why! 

What is your favorite travel book?

I’ll name my own book, The Bright Continent, which is an investigation of technology and development in Africa. I reported it across 17 countries in two years, and while it covers meaty issues like education, health care and finance in Africa, it’s also a contemporary travelogue that brings back memories of some of the most unusual and fascinating places I’ve been.

What’s your favorite room service experience ever?

I tend not to order in!

Beach, city, or mountains?

City.

Alone or with someone else?

Alone.

Favorite travel app?

Google maps is best in class.

Fantasy mini bar/fridge items?

Avocados.

In-flight wifi?

No!

Read more from our Insiders series, here.

Zach Para – Drummer for City of the Sun

Zach Para is the drummer for Brooklyn-based band, City of the Sun. You might have seen him on stage at New York music spots Brooklyn Steel and The Troubadour, or playing events around town for brands like Chloe and Vans during fashion weeks. Or, you might recognise him and his bandmates from Billboard Mag articles or various partnerships with Gilt , Sunglass Hut and Ilegal Mezcal. Those boys are always busy.

Hailing from Seattle, Zach Para found his way to NYC via Boston, where he graduated from New England Conservatory. Since then, his music has taken him everywhere from Brazil to Spain, Indonesia and back again. He has learned how to get creative when it comes to packing a bag with stuff needed for five different climates, and somehow managed to look good no matter where he steps off the plane. 

City of The Sun is one of Safara’s favorite bands to include on our travel playlists (shameless plug to head over to our curated Playlists page). Of course, we asked Zach to create a playlist for us, too. And, we’ve gathered his intel on his home city for our Seattle guide.

Part of our Insiders series, this is your window into the worlds of the coolest people in Safara’s network. These are the contacts we’d hit up for travel inspiration, whether it’s a hotel recommendation, a new track for our in-transit playlist, the best mini-products to pack, or just to daydream about where we’d open a boutique island hotel (this changes with each Insider guide we read – we’re easily and happily influenced).

Read on for travel inspiration from Zach Para.

Name three of your favorite hotels?

The House, Athens, Greece. A quaint hostel feel with great rooms that are inspired by the Greek Islands. The rooftop has hammocks and plant life that take you away from the bustling city life below. I’m pretty sure you can share rooms, but the private ones are perfect for a few nights going out in Athens.

Museum Hotel, Nashville, USA. Who wouldn’t want to walk through a tasteful, modern art museum after a long night out in Nashville? Rooms are spacious with high ceilings and attractive stone walls. And the fitness center felt like I was walking into a spa.

Hotel Unique, São Paulo, Brazil. Stunning modern architecture, amazing views of the city scape, with one of the best rooftop bars/restaurants I’ve seen.

What hotel room design element can you not live without? 

Lots of sunlight. The bigger the windows the better.

What are your favorite “offices” while traveling? 

My “offices” usually consist of recording studios, stages and practice rooms, but when I need to get some computer work done, I would say the pool/spa at The Standard Hotel in Miami Beach. Not a bad place to hang with your laptop.

Where would you go for a digital detox or just generally to get off the grid?

Uvita de OSA, Costa Rica or Lake Chelan, Washington. I have family in Costa Rica with a gorgeous Airbnb by the ocean. The gardens are a perfect place to disconnect. Lake Chelan is a special place for me. My dad’s family has had a cabin there for generations. You literally have no cell service unless you head into town, so it forces some peace. 

What three songs are on your travel playlist?

Yeahnoh (Powe Handa Blingabe), by Kondi Band. Cloak by Jordan Rakei. And It’s All Over by Pionel.

What are your favorite travel hacks?

When flying, try not choosing your seat. It’s a gamble, but on the right flights they’ll upgrade you simply because they are the only single seats left on the plane.

What do you always bring with you in your carry-on?

Sennheiser headphones and a MIDI keyboard.

Have you or would you travel alone?

Definitely. I’ve traveled solo to Zakynthos, Greece and it was great. It gives you the space to focus on yourself and truly tune out the noise.

Who is your dream “co-pilot” or travel partner?

It would be Anthony Bourdain, hands down.

Travel can be about the little luxuries, like an amazing cup of coffee. Where was the best one you’ve had?

Xi’an, China at Lubai Farm Wu. It’s a tea farm and I had a cup of freshly dried Pu’er tea straight from the source. 

If you could quit your job and follow the Mamma Mia dream (ie open a small hotel in another country or on a remote island), where would you do it?

Sifnos, Greece.

Beach, city, or mountains?

Beach!

Fantasy mini-bar/fridge item?

Kombucha.

Early check-in or late check-out?

Late check-out. 

Along or with someone else?

Someone else – if I can choose who that someone is. 

Read more from our Insiders series, here.

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